Sunday, February 19, 2012

I've recently discovered that either I have Multiple Personality Disorder or I was crowned Queen when I wasn't paying attention. Those are the only logical explanations for one person to refer to herself in the plural form, and it seems I do that quite often. I noticed it the other day, and then caught it several more times after I started paying attention. Apparently, I am no longer just me.

I went to see a new doctor the other day, and she asked me about a few of my symptoms. "We've been dealing with this since October," I told her. "We tried {blah blah blah} treatment, and then we had {blah blah blah} side effects. As the doctor and I discussed my medical history, I told her all about what we went through a few years ago, when we saw so many doctors and got nowhere, so we just gave up.

Now, if I recall correctly, I was the only one with symptoms.I was the one who was tested. I was the one who took medication. I was the one with side effects. And though everyone else encouraged me to keep trying new doctors, I was the one who gave up on them. Going through it all over again now, these symptoms & side effects areshowing up in/on my body, not in a group.

That isn't the only situation in which I've caught myself doing this, either. Someone asks if I have plans, and I answer with what we are doing (or that we're not doing anything). At work, I respond to most offers by saying how glad we are to have our volunteers' support, or to let people know what we are looking for in a given situation.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Actually I did ... just not at you. I know you would never judge me (after all, you could just stop reading if you didn't like me). You are kind, caring ... you look to see the best in people ... you see the best in me. I have no reason to yell at you.

No, I'm trying to send this message to myself (though I notice I used the word trying, so who knows whether it'll actually work). I make excuses to myself, and I make excuses for myself, but I don't believe either one, and I can't stop judging me.

I have gained 40 pounds in the past 10 months. And I'm absolutely disgusted by that fact.

Now I admit that some of the weight came on from a bit of stress eating (it hasn't exactly been a great 10 months), but the reality is that most of it is not my fault. For the most part, I eat healthy food. For the most part, I eat reasonable portions. I do not deserve this weight ... or this disgust.

Meet the Buttahfly

About Kerry

​I'm a glass-half-full kind of girl. More than that, really - I'm the girl who'll point out that if it's not full, you don't have to worry about spilling your drink every time you pick it up!

I am extremely fortunate to be married to my best friend - the boy next door I had a crush on since I was a child. Though we've been married nearly 17 years, people who meet us still think we’re newlyweds … and in a way, we still are! Through thick and thin, sickness and health, he has been my rock, my anchor, my greatest source of strength and support.

Over the past few years, I've been diagnosed with a number of chronic, autoimmune, and invisible illnesses (see What’s Wrong for the details). Still, I do the best I can to stay positive: this blog is my way of showing those with similar experiences that they are not alone. We may not be able to beat (cure) our diseases, but we can make sure they don’t break our spirits. At the same time, I’m hoping to educate our friends and family – those who want to be there for us, but don’t really understand the extent of our illnesses and how severely they affect us. With a little help, we can get through anything … together.

It's my mission to make a difference in people's lives, and I encourage everyone to do that in whatever way possible. A positive word, a helping hand, a donation (of time or money) to a worthy cause, even a simple but genuine smile can mean the world to someone ... and that someone could be you!

🎶We're Jinglin', Baby!

On December 9, I'll be jingling my bells at the Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Run. Join us if you're in the area ... or support our efforts with a donation. Anything you can do would be greatly appreciated!

The Mighty

I've recently had a number of stories published on The Mighty, an online magazine of sorts for people with chronic illness. View my author page (and published pieces) here.

2017 WEGO Health Awards: Patient Leader Hero (Nominee)

“Sometimes the connections we make in online communities go above and beyond, truly changing our lives for the better.” This award recognizes those Patient Leaders “whose content has opened your eyes to seeing things differently … whose dedication has ignited the advocate within you to make a change … whose work has effected change for their community members. This Patient Leader's influence truly has the impact to make a difference. They're nothing short of a hero.” I am truly honored to be nominated.

I Did It!

Every day in April 2014, WEGO Health provided a prompt, and my posts here reflect my responses to those ideas, in terms of living with chronic illness(es). It was a great experience that inspired me to write more, enabled me to “meet” other bloggers and friends, and empowered us all to share our experiences in a unique and creative way.